Magnetic relay



Aug. 5, 1947. v. A. JOHNSON ET A| 2,425,190

MAGNETIC RELAY Filed OGL. 9, 1944 FIRST SECOND KOM@ KOT llO |02 202 2| FIGAl l F|G.4

INVENTORS FREDRIG E. WOOD B VINCENT A.JOHNSON ATTORNEYY Patented Aug. 5, 1947 MAGNETIC RELAY Vincent A. Johnson, Evanston, and Fredric E. Wood, Oak Park, Ill., assignors to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9, 1944, Serial 557,788

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to electrical relays and is more particularly concerned with improved arrangements for permitting two relays, in addition to operating electrical contacts, to control th'e release of one another mechanically.

According to one feature of the invention, either relay may be energized and deenergized thus leaving its armature in operated position, its armature cannot be restored to normal without movement of the armature of the second relay by energizing said other relay.

According to another feature of the invention, when both relays are energized, either armature can be restored to normal by deenergizing the coil of its respective relay. Again this coil can be energized thus moving the armature to operated position after which the first armature can be restored to normal by deenergizing the iirst coil. This cycle of operation can be repeated indeiinitely.

According to another feature of the invention, either` relay may be energized to operate its armature and close its switching contacts and then deenergized leaving the armature locked in an operated position, and by again energizing the first relay, to retain the armature operated independent of the mechanical lock, and to energize the second relay as many times as desired without interference from the first relay as long as said rst relay is held energized.

According to another feature of this invention this relay combination can be mounted in any position without in any way interfering with its eiiciency or after being amounted in a particular position, it may be moved into various positions, or kept in motion, and therefore is suitable for use on moving vehicles, boats and on airplanes.

While I have illustrated a pair of interlocking levers to accomplish the above features it should be understood that only one interlock lever may be used if desired, and in this case the armature of one relay will operate when its respective coil is energized and will be locked in operated position by the interlocking lever after the coil is deenergized and can be restored to normal only by energizing the coil of the second relay which also causes its armature to close its switching contact's, this second relay will restore only after its coil is deenergized, however so long as the coil of said second relay is not deenergized the first armature can again be operated by reenergizing the rst coil.

specifically mentioned will be better understood from the drawings and the following description. The drawings consist of 5 figures on one sheet.

Figure 1 is designated as front view and for convenience the left hand relay is termed first and the right hand relay is termed second This view shows theI iirst relay energized and the second relay deenergized. A rear view would have the same appearance.

Figure 2 is also a front View, but the second relay is energized and th'e first relay is deenergized. This view also shows in dotted lines, the spring 245.

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the relay set to show the mounting of the relay assemblies onto the mounting plate. This ngure also gives a good view of the relation between the armature of the.

second relay and the lock levers.

Figure 4 is an end view, this illustration is practically identical, whether it be taken ofi the left end or the right end.

Figure 5 is a view of one of the members, H4 and 2 I4 used for adjustment purposes.

For convenience in following this description the relay at the left in Fig. 1 is designated rst, the coil of which is number IUI, the relay at thev right is designated second and its coil is number 20|. This relay arrangement consists of two relays including switch spring sets and armatures mounted on a common base or relay mounting plate. In addition, there are mounted on extensions to the mounting plate, two interlock levers each of which is equipped with an adjusting member for moving its respective lever in any direction, in the same plane, to adjust the relation between the interlock lever and its respective armature. Each lever is equipped with a spiral spring to maintain pressure in a direction to cause the curved portion of the lever to press against the roller at the end of one of the arms of the armature of one relay. For example, spring |45 maintains pressure upwards on the lever Ill thus causing the curved portion I|3 to maintain close relations with roller |06. Likewise, spring '245, shown dotted in Fig. 2, maintains pressure upwards on lever 2|I to cause the curved portion 213 (not shown) to maintain close relation to the roller 206 which is attached to end 204 of arm 203 of armature 202 as indicated in Fig. 3.

The mounting plate M0 is equipped with 2 threaded holes Ili and 246 to accommodate screws for attaching the relay mounting plate to a support bracket, a relay rack or other permanent xture (not shown). Other holes are provided in this plate, two of which give access to the screws ||8 and 2| 8 which hold the cores of the coils to their respective heel pieces.

Also countersunk holes are provided for the at head screws H6, ||1, |24 and 2|6, 2H, 224 which hold the relays rmly to the mounting plate |40. Two projecting portions |4l and 24| are turned up at right angles to the base of the mounting plate to provide a mounting place for the interlock levers. These projections are contilnued upwards beyond the mounting space for the levers, parallel to each other and are finally turned at right angles, parallel to the base, terminating at a point about equidistant from the coil spool heads. Near the end |42 of the projection |4|, a hole |43 is provided, to anchor one end of spring |45. The other end of spring |45 is anchored in hole |44 in the interlock lever and is adjusted to maintain pressure, of the curved portion ||3 against the roller |06, regardless of the position in which the relay is placed or when moved from place to place or when kept in motion. On the other side of the relay combination the other projection 24| is arranged in a similar manner and accommodates one end of spring 245 (shown dotted in Fig. l), the other end of which is anchored in lever 2|| causing the curved portion 2|3 (not shown) to press against the roller 206. Thus it will be seen that, due to spring action, the levers and 2|| are maintained in proper relation to the armatures |02 and 202 respectively, regardless of the position of the relay combination and will continue to function as required,

The lock levers are rotatably mounted o-n the projections by means of an eccentric member shown in Fig. 5, held in position by a screw. For

example, lever is mounted on projection |4| by the member ||4 and held by screw ||5. By loosening screw ||5 the member ||4 may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, causing a movement of lever enabling the curved portion ||3 to be brought into proper position in relation to roller |06, and at the same time causing the end ||2 of lever to be positioned in proper relation to the right angled projection` 206 (Fig. 3) at the end of arm 201 of armature 202. After the proper position of lever has been determined the screw ||5 is tightened to hold member ||4 in the selected position, after which the lever |i| is free and canv be rotatably moved under the control of roller |06 and the spring |45. Likewise lock lever 2| is mounted on the projection 24| which is opposite ,the projection |4|, and associated therewith is an adjusting member 2|4, screw 2|5 and helical spring 245 (shown dotted in Fig. 5), for the proper control oi lever 2| As arranged, one of the armatures |02 or 202 will always be locked either as shown in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 2. Thus it will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, that a movement of armature |02 due to energization of coil |0| will cause roller |06 to press on the curved portion 3 of the lever to in turn cause the end ||2 to move upwards, from behind the right angled projection `208, thus freeing armature 202 which will restore to the position shown in Fig. 1 under pressure of the switch springs, providing the coil 20| is deenergized. In Fig. l armature |02 is shown in operated position and under pressure from springs ||9 and |20 at the point where bushing |23 presses against the right angled projection |05 of the armature arm |03. Likewise, a movement of armature 202 due to energization of coil 20| will cause roller 206 (Fig. 3) to press against the curved portion 2|3 (not shown) of the lever 4 2| l, to in turn causev the end 2 I2 to move upwards to a position above the right angled projection |08 at the end of arm |01, of armature |02, thus freeing armature |02, which will restore under pressure of switch springs ||9 and |20, provided the coil |0| is not energized.

Thus the coil of either relay can be energized causing its armature to operate and as the armature arm moves from its normal position to its operated position, the right angled projection at the end of one of the arms of the armature will pass beyond the end of the lever which is under the control of the other relay, and this lever will prevent the return of the armature when the coil is subsequently deenergized. When it is desired to open the switching circuits which are now closed by the operated armature, the coil of the second relay is energized, its armature operates to close its switching circuits but at the same time moves its interlock lever to release the first armature.

Thus the simplest form of operation is when either relay is energized, its armature operates and will remain operated after the relay coil is deenergized, to be restored to rnormal only by energizing the other relay. Then, this second relay is deenergized leaving its armature locked in operated position, where it will remain until the coil of the other relay is again energized. rI'his cycle of operations can be repeated indenitely.

However, there are many circuit combinations which can be controlled by this relay arrangement of two relays and two interlock levers. For example, coil |0| is energized closing the switch springs of the rst relay and without deenergizing said coil |0|, the other relay may be energized and deenergized any number of times Without interfering with the circuit conditions controlled by the contacts of the first relay. Then, after deenergizing the second relay the first relay can be deenergized, but the armature will not restore due to the interlock feature. Likewise the second relay can be energized and while current holds its armature, the rst relay may be operated any number of times.

When it is desired to operate the relay arrangement as an ordinary interlock set, whereby one relay is energized and deenergized leaving its armature locked until unlocked by energizing the other relay, it is only necessary to remove one of the interlock levers.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the description above and the drawings are by way of illustration of the invention and that the invention is capable of many variations and modications.

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay arrangement a pair of magnets, armatures for said magnets, a pair of locking levers'cooperating with said armatures, a mounting plate supporting said magnets, said plate having two projecting arms turned up right angles to the plate and parallel to each other, one of said levers mounted on each of said arms by means of eccentric mounting members, said members movable to adjust the position of said levers. an extension on each of said arms, a spring secured at one end to said extension and at the other end to the lever mounted on the associated arm.

2. In a relay arrangement, a relay mounting plate, a pair of relays each with an armature and one or more sets of switching contacts, a lever associated with each of said armatures, a

spring associated with each of said levers, two eccentric adjusting members for moving said levers in operative relation to said armatures, means for energizing one relay to cause its said armature to move one of said levers to free the armature of the other said relay and while said relay remains energized to energize and deenergize the other said relay intermittently without interference by either of said levers.

3. In a relay arrangement, interlock levers, springs therefor, eccentric mounting members therefor, a relay mounting plate having two projecting portions turned up at right angles to the base and parallel to each other with screw holes for receiving mounting screws to fasten the eccentric members, an extension at the end oi said projecting portions bent on a line parallel to the base to form an anchorage for the interlock lever springs, a pair of heel pieces with double arm armatures, two non-magnetic mounting plates each equipped with one or more contact spring pile-ups to be actuated by said armatures, two relay coils one of said coils when energized causing one of said armatures to move its spring pileup, means for locking said armature after said coil is deenergized until unlocked by the movement of said second armature.

4. In a relay combination, a mounting plate with means for attaching two adjustable interlock levers for the control of the return movements or the armatures of two relays, a spiral spring attached to each interlock lever and to said mounting plate for maintaining pressure in one direction on said interlock levers, two eccentric adjusting members for moving said levers in any direction in the same plane in relation, to said armatures, the energization of one of said relays causing its armature to be placed under the control of one of said levers and to remain under the control of said lever until released by the movement of said second armature.

5. In a relay arrangement, a mounting plate with means for attaching an interlock lever, two relay heel pieces with means for rotatably mounting thereon two double arm. armatures, two nonmagnetic mounting plates each with one or more spring pile-ups each consisting of a plurality of double contact springs assembled therewith for mounting on said heel pieces, said springs to be actuated by said armatures7 two relay coils, an interlock lever `with a spiral spring for maintaining pressure in one direction on said lever, an eccentric adjusting member arranged to move said interlock lever in any direction in the same plane in relation to the free end of said armaturesand means for holding said adjusting member in any chosen position while at the same time allowing freedom of rotatable movement of said lever, one of said coils when energized actuating its respective armature and closing the contacts of one of said spring pile-ups and locking said armature to retain said contact springsin their operated position after said energized coil is deenergized, until released by the operation of said second armature.

6. In combination a pair of relays equipped with double arm armatures and one or more contact spring pile-ups, two interlock levers with spiral springs providing tension in one direction on said interlock levers, two eccentric members associated with said levers for moving said levers in any direction in the same plane and means for holding said members in the position chosen, either coil of said relays when energized moving its armature to engage one of said interlock levers to maintain said armature in its operated position after said coil has been deenergized and means for releasing said operated armature when the coil of said other relay has been energized.

'7. In an interlocking relay arrangement, a pair of electromagnets each having an armature attracted by energization thereof, each armature having a pair of operating arms, an interlocking lever separately mounted from the armatures and having an extension in the path of an arm of each armature, another lever separately mounted and having an extension in the path of each of the other arms of said armatures, each lever normally tending to lock one of the armatures in attracted position by means of one of its extensions, each lever moved by the attraction of one armature due to engagement of one of the arms of the attracted armature -with its other extension to unlock the other armature, and springs for restoring said armatures.

8. An interlocking relay arrangement comprising a pair of electromagnets each having an armature, a pair of arms extending parallel to each other from the armatures, a pair of interlocking levers mounted separately from the armatures and each having an extension at times engaged by and movable relative to an arm of each armature, each lever normally biased to lock one of the armatures in energized position by means of one extension thereof and operated by the arm of the other armature to move said extension to unlock the locked armature, said springs for restoring said armatures.

9. An interlock relay arrangement comprising a pair of separately mounted levers, a pair of electromagnets each with a double arm armature, one arm of each armature being equipped with a rounded roller arranged to engage one end of one of the said separately mounted levers, said levers being rotatably mounted near the center of their length for up and down movement of their two ends, one end of each of said levers slightly turned upwards, the upper edge forming a bearing surface for the roller attached to one end of one of said armature arms, each lever tensioned upwards at its curved end so that the curved bearing surface presses against the said armature arm roller, 4whereby the energization of each electromagnet of the pair will cause one of its armature arms with its said roller to press down the turned up end of one of said levers to cause the other end of the same said lever to be raised up out of the path of an armature arm of said other electromagnet to free said armature of the said other electromagnet from control by said one lever, whereby said other electromagnet may be energized and deenergized intermittent without any interference from the said lever which is being held down by the said armature arm while said one electromagnet is energized, and springs for restoring said armatures.

VINCENT A. JOHNSON. FREDRIC E. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date` 770,657 Rowell Sept. 20, 1904 1,131,447 Wallace Mar. 9, 1915 2,016,448 Milne Oct. 8, 1935 

